If a ferry was available from Laingholm to Onehunga would you use it to go shopping and/or use the train link to Britomart for work? Auckland’s second largest ferry company SeaLink is promoting the possibility of services to Orakei, St Heliers, Takapuna and Browns Bay. It’s also raised the idea of Manukau Harbour services to Onehunga via areas like Weymouth, Clarks Beach, Onehunga and Laingholm in its submission to Auckland Transport’s draft Regional Transport Plan. Managing director Todd Bolton says it’s time to have a serious discussion about the future of ferry services in Auckland. ‘‘We’ve had a lot of head nodding and verbal agreement that hasn’t resulted in any further assessment of anything we are proposing.’’ The company currently provides services to Waiheke from Half Moon Bay and Great Barrier from the city but is considering moving into the commuter market. Studies have been done in some of the areas SeaLink proposes to run services, like St Heliers. But Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan says the study shows a wharf to service the ferries would have to be 500 metres long and parking would also be a problem. Mr Bolton agrees infrastructure would need to be built, but still says more services are viable. Meanwhile, the latest study that looked at providing ferry services in the Manukau Harbour was put together in 2005 by the former Auckland Regional Transport Authority. It suggested there would be limited demand for a service in the harbour and a lack of deep water at high tide was also considered a problem. But Mr Bolton is surprised more work hasn’t been done on the option. ‘‘These places have a sizeable population and commuter base.’’ He says the railway station at Onehunga could link as a feeder service for commuters working in the city. There is an opportunity to establish something viable now, while bigger development could take time, he says. Ferry development has begun in other parts of the city like Hobsonville and Beach Haven. But Mr Bolton says Hobsonville in particular is a developing area, rather than one where ferry services are needed immediately. ‘‘If you put something in at Laingholm or Clark’s Beach, I’m confident you’d get more patronage than at Hobsonville.’’ Mr Bolton admits there is a challenge around building infrastructure like ferry terminals, but says that is also the case with other public transport options like rail and bus services. Another idea Mr Bolton is promoting is the use of ferries for tourism. Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan says a number of submissions noted the draft public transport plan doesn’t adequately address the development of future ferry services. However, an Auckland Transport report on the draft plan says it doesn’t spell out a clear role for ferries as an integral part of the development of the new network. That’s in part because some major services are provided on a commercial basis, without a contract with Auckland Transport
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 00:13:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015